While Black Friday used to mean standing out in line at 3 a.m. for the latest game system, toy or marked down television, it has morphed into a tradition that, for some, starts Thanksgiving morning.

Small lines started to form outside of several major department stores, including Target, Sears and Toys R Us, as people readied themselves for the sales to begin at 8 or 9 p.m.

“We do this as a family — for fun,” Jim Eddleman of Richlands said as he stood outside Target at 5 p.m. on Thursday. He had been in front of the store since 6 a.m.

“We go here (Target) and Best Buy. Then we hit Wal-Mart and Dunkin Donuts,” he said.

This is Eddleman’s second year shopping on Thursday instead of Friday for deals. “I have nine kids,” he said. “We’re planning to do Thanksgiving on Saturday.”

Eddleman was first in line last year at Target and wanted to be first this year. He achieved that goal. He, along with his sons, camped out in front of Best Buy overnight and he went over to Target Thursday morning.

His 15-year-old son, Blue Eddleman, had been camped out at Best Buy since Tuesday night. He said he was there for televisions and laptops that were only half price.

“You get to save money and have fun with other people,” he said.

Another group of people were staked out in front of Toys R Us.

Max Gianelloni of Camp Lejeune said she had been in line since noon so she could get free toys.

“They’re giving $30 in free toys to the first 200 people in line,” she said.

Gianelloni, who is part of a military family, said she doesn’t have a lot of family in the area, so no one is inconvenienced by their shopping.

“This is actually our first time shopping on Black Friday,” she said. “We’re usually Dec. 23 shoppers.”

Like so many that came out for the early deals, the Gianelloni’s moved up their Thanksgiving feast to compensate for the time at the sales.

But some shoppers were not happy about stores cutting into Thanksgiving time.

Nicole Mallia, of Jacksonville, started sitting at Sears at 11 a.m. on Thursday to get a 50-inch television for $299 that was regularly $899.

“This year, we didn’t even have Thanksgiving,” she said.

“It stinks. In years past, you could have dinner and then go out,” Mallia said. “I like the excitement at midnight. You got the turkey beforehand, and then you got to work it off.”

She said she doesn’t like that stores are opening so early. “It cuts into family time together. Before, you didn’t have to choose between family time and the sales.”

Germaine Lawson of Jacksonville, who was second in line at Target, agreed with Mallia.

“They should keep Black Friday on Black Friday,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to choose another day to have our holiday.”

Contact Daily News Reporter Tabitha Clark at 910-219-8454 or Tabitha.Clark@jdnews.com . Follow her on Twitter at @TabithaLClark or friend her on Facebook.